The Senate Finance Committee has made their changes to the proposed budget for next fiscal year and sent it to the Senate floor. Amendments made to the budget only fund 48% of the TOPS scholarship program. Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur says they hope to have more money to fund the program after the special session…:
cut 4 (08) “to TOPS”
The upper chamber is slated to take up the budget bill tomorrow. The regular session must end Monday.

The “Ban the Box” bill, which would prohibit state agencies from asking job applicants about their criminal history before the interview process, is waiting on the governor’s desk to be signed. US Justice Action Network Executive Director Holly Harris says this breaks down barriers to employment for thousands of citizens with criminal records..:
Cut 10 (03) “crime free lives”
Governor Edwards is expected to sign the measure.

The LSU AgCenter hosts a meeting today to address the growing problem of feral hogs. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

The state Senate gave final legislative passage Monday to the REAL ID law, which in Louisiana would mean motorists would get to choose whether or not they want a license which meets federal standards. Governor Edwards is expected to sign the measure.

A week from today, the regular legislative session will come to a close, and just 30 minutes later, lawmakers will begin another special session. Communications Director for the Governor, Richard Carbo says legislators will address some of the unintended consequences of the last special session, like exemptions that should have been placed on the sales tax increase.

Cut 15 (09) “cleaned up”

This Memorial Day, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, Joey Strickland, encourages families to get together and remember those that gave their lives fighting for our freedom. He says no matter how people feel about the war, they should still honor our veterans. He says there’s plenty that people can do to salute veterans’ service.

Cut 5 (10) “our communities”

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser hopes Louisiana will be a popular destination for travelers this summer. He says the soaring summer temperatures shouldn’t stop people from visiting our festivals and historic locations.

Cut 9 (10) “having fun”

2015 was another record-setting year for Louisiana tourism.

The Tin Roof Brewery of Baton Rouge will brew the official beer of LSU, with a little help from some LSU fans. Cofounder William McGehee says Tin Roof Brewery was selected to brew the LSU beer after a series of conversations with LSU officials.

Cut 12 (11) “we are”

LSU fans 21 and over can register to be on the tasting panel for the new brew at TinRoofBrewery.com

In honor of Memorial Day, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Joey Strickland encourages families to take time during their family gatherings and remember those that have fought for our freedom.

Cut 6 (11) “of freedom”

Strickland says in the past year alone, 7 Louisiana troops have died.

A week from today, lawmakers will end the regular session and begin another special session in the same day. Communications Director for Governor Edwards Richard Carbo says the budget will be a big issue during this session, as lawmakers were unable to raise enough revenue in the last special session to close the budget deficit.

Cut 14 (11) “be priorities”

Carbo says legislators will look at responsible revenue raising measures to ensure that critical state services are fully funded.

LSU fans will help choose the taste of the official beer of LSU. Cofounder of Tin Roof Brewery William McGehee says people age 21 and over can register to be on the tasting panel that will select the LSU brew from 10 different test batches of lagers and ales.

Cut 10 (08) “we’ve done”

Registration to be on the panel continues through June 8 at TinRoofBrewery.com. McGehee says the new beer should be ready in time for the start of the 2016 LSU football season.

The LSU Tigers have received a national seed in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. The Tigers will host Utah Valley, Rice and Southeastern Louisiana in the Baton Rouge Regional this weekend. UL Lafayette will host Sam Houston State, Princeton and Arizona, while Louisiana Tech is heading to the regional in Starkville and Tulane will be at the Oxford Regional.

The regular legislative session will come to a close in just one week and on that same day, legislators will begin a special session to address a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall. Communications Director for Governor Edwards, Richard Carbo, says the state will look at responsible revenue raising measures to ensure TOPS, healthcare, K-12 education and higher ed are fully funded…

Cut 13 (06) “it out”

Carbo says they’ll also try to clean up the unintendenced consequences of the first special session, like collecting sales tax on Girl Scout cookies.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is hopeful that tourists will choose the Bayou State as their summer vacation destination to visit one of the 400 festivals that will occur across the state during the summer months. He hopes the low gas prices will bring in more people from other states.

Cut 8 (06) “low prices”

Five teams from Louisiana are in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

According to organizers of the Bayou Country Superfest, attendance at the three-day country music festival dropped for the second straight year. 100-thousand people attended the seventh annual festival at LSU’s Tiger Stadium to see performances by country stars like Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Jason Aldean.

In just one week, the regular legislative session will wrap up, and 30 minutes later, lawmakers will begin another special session. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The LSU Tigers have received a national seed in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. The Tigers will host Utah Valley, Rice and Southeastern Louisiana in the Baton Rouge Regional this weekend. UL Lafayette will host Sam Houston State, Princeton and Arizona, while Louisiana Tech is heading to the regional in Starkville and Tulane will be at the Oxford Regional.

A Baton Rouge Brewer will brew an official LSU beer, with the help of some LSU fans. Cofounder of the Tin Roof Brewery William McGehee says registration to be on the panel that will select the new brew continues through June 8. He says the new beer will be ready in time for the start of the 2016 LSU football season.

Cut 11 (12) “big scale”

People 21 and older can register to be on the tasting panel at TinRoofBrewery.com.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is hoping a lot of visitors will come to this Bayou State through the summer. He says this is the time to put our best foot forward, as over 400 festivals will occur throughout the state during the summer months. He says we have the best food, culture and history, but it’s our people that really set us apart from other states.

Cut 7 (06) “of year”

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced a second special session will being on June 6th, only 30 minutes after the conclusion of the regular session. During the second special session, Governor Edwards will ask legislators to raise additional revenue to fully fund TOPS, K-12 education, public colleges and healthcare.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season forecast. NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan says this should be a near-normal season with a 70-percent chance of 10 to 16 named storms. She says El Nino, which hinders the production of tropical storms, is dissipating and the Climate Prediction Center forecasts a 70% chance a La Nina will form…
CUT 8 (08) “will be”

The average season typically includes around 12 named storms. The Colorado State forecast team has predicted 13 named storms.

An Allen Parish man has died after being stung by bees more than a thousand times in an Arizona Park. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy Joaquin Enriquez says 23-year-old Alex Bestler of Elton and a friend were hiking when they were attacked by a swarm of bees. He says Bestler was covered in bees.
CUT 5 (09) “bad shape”

He says Usery Mountain Park is closed during the weekend pending an investigation.

A 24-year-old pregnant Thibodaux woman has been arrested for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a teenager. Thibodaux Police Cpl. David Melancon says Alison Thibodaux has been charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. He says the teenager and his mother came forward after they learned Thibodaux was pregnant.
cut 12 (09) “the father”

The stock of beef is plenty for those planning on grilling this Memorial Day weekend. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a near-normal season in its 2016 Atlantic hurricane season forecast. NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan says there’s about a 70-percent chance of 10 to 16 named stores during the season. She says El Nino, which hinders the production of tropical storms, is dissipating.

 
A teenager has been arrested in the murder of East Feliciana School Board member, Broderick Brooks, who was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in his car in north Baton Rouge on Monday. Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 19-year-old Jaquez Griffin has been charged with first degree murder. He says the motive for the shooting is still under investigation.
cut 10 (07) “Mr. Griffin”

Brooks was said to be an active member of the school board, who was loved by everyone.

A pregnant Thibodaux woman has been arrested for having a sexual relationship with a juvenile. Thibodaux Police Cpl. David Melancon says 24-year-old Alison Thibodaux has been charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
Cut 11 (11) “several months.”

Melancon says at this time, they are not sure if the juvenile is the father of the child.

The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration released its 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season forecast and predicts a near-normal season. NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan says there is a 70-percent chance of 10 to 16 named storms throughout the season.
CUT 6 (06) “or higher”

The average season typically includes around 12 named storms.

Grillers should be thrilled as there is plenty of beef available to cook up this Memorial Day weekend. CEO of the Cattle Producers of Louisiana Dave Foster says beef was sold to retailers at a lower price compared to previous years and so consumers should see some good deals in store…
Cut 13 (09) “this weekend”

An Allen Parish man has died after being stung more than a thousand times by bees in an Arizona park. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy Joaquin Enriquez says 23-year-old Alex Bestler of Elton and a friend were hiking in the Usery Mountain Park when they were attacked by bees. He says Bestler’s friend escaped to a restroom but Bestler was overcome by the swarm.
CUT 3 (08) “the bees”

He says Bestler was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A teenager has been arrested in the murder of East Feliciana School Board member, Broderick Brooks, who was found dead in his car in north Baton Rouge earlier in the week. Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 19-year-old Jaquez Griffin has been charged with first degree murder.
CUT 9 (12) “degree murder”